Laptopmag checked out the J-RPG Octopath Traveler II:

Octopath Traveler 2 review: A new age of RPG

92 hours later, my brain is melted and I love it

Octopath Traveler 2 is everything I wanted the original to be and more. No more disconnected stories strewn about by a loose connection to an absurdly difficult optional boss. No more hoping that everything is going to come together at the very end to send off your 100-hour journey in a blaze of glory. No more “is that really it?”

Our eight travelers argue, laugh, cry, and live life together on the road, each making their way toward new and old goals. It’s through the completion of these stories that we begin to see a pattern forming, something stirring within the shadows. This is a full circle journey that'll leave your jaw slacked and your heart in cardiac arrest. 

[...]

Octopath Traveler 2 is my ideal RPG. There’s very little I would remove from it. I want Square Enix to continue to build upon the foundation of each game. I want to see Octopath Traveler 3 with more wild and creative mechanics. I envision a future where I'm playing Octopath Traveler 10 in my late 60s — if it continues to follow a 5-year cycle… if Square Enix survives that long… if I survive that long… if Earth survives that long.

Anyway, good game.

Verdict:
Octopath Traveler 2 is ringing in a new series of role playing games that has potential to be as huge as the giants that came before.

Pros
+Engaging turn-based gameplay
+Day-night cycle mechanics
+Full circle narrative
+Gorgeous art and stellar music

Cons
-No voice acted travel banter
-Some characters could use unique skills

Score: 4.5/5

TheReviewGeek checked out the J-RPG Octopath Traveler II:

Octopath Traveler II Game Review – A thoroughly enjoyable RPG

Octopath Traveler II is a wonderful ode to those old pixel art RPGs of yesteryear. With a distinct Chrono Trigger/Final Fantasy charm, Octopath presents a vibrant and very accessible RPG, with a unique hook and some great storytelling to boot. The second game excels and builds upon the great qualities the first had, bringing a unique 8-story hook, which serves as both its main strength and its Achille’s heel.

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The level of detail put into Octopath Traveler II is definitely admirable, although one could point fingers at the side quests, which feel like very low-level fetch-quest grinds. The rewards for which mostly involve gaining money and a couple of items too, which is a bit disappointing. Given there are around 100 or so in the game, it would have been nice to gain some Experience Points here too, especially as there’s no quick way to grind up levels.

Overall, Octopath Traveler II is a decent RPG, with a surprising amount of depth and lots of stat tinkering that’ll whet the appetite for any fan looking for a stat-heavy turn-based RPG. The 8 stories are a bit of a mixed bag though, with some standing out as excellent and others feeling a bit underwhelming.

Through it all though, the game manages to bring everything together in the end, and the 50+ hours you’ll spend getting through the main missions certainly won’t feel wasted. Whether this will be crowned best RPG at year’s end is debatable, but it’s a damn good game all the same and well worth playing.

Score: 8/10

WayTooManyGames checked out Octopath Traveler II:

REVIEW – OCTOPATH TRAVELER II

When Octopath Traveler released back in 2018, it was an immediate hit. Fans were blown away by this love letter to classic JRPGs, with its striking blend of HD lighting and environments and 2D pixel art graphics. Sure, it had some issues, with some storylines not being as good as others and the eight characters never having any intersecting quests, but overall, Octopath Traveler was met with favorable reviews. When news came out about a sequel in the works, fans were elated. Now with the time finally upon us, it’s time to see if Octopath Traveler II is as good as the original. Spoiler alert: it’s even better!

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I cannot praise Octopath Traveler II highly enough. It took an already remarkable game and improved upon it in every single capacity. The visuals are even more eye-catching and dramatic, thanks to the 3D camera perspectives and enhanced graphics. The soundtrack is just as amazing as the first game, but still different enough to set itself apart. The developers proved they listened to their fans by including more travel banter and all-new companion sidequests, giving them believable reasons as to why they would be traveling with each other. All the new features enhanced an already great concept, making Octopath Traveler II a true masterpiece of a RPG.

Score: 10/10

Mortismal Gaming checked out Octopath Traveler II:

Octopath Traveler 2 - Review After 100%

Mekel Kasanova checked out the J-RPG Octopath Traveler II:

Octopath Traveler II Review - Perfecting The JRPG Formula

The J-RPG Octopath Traveler II will be released today:

Octopath Traveler II

The story takes place in Solistia, a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea.

It is a bustling era, wherein large vessels navigate busy sea routes and the power of steam gives birth to new technologies.

Some people thrill to glamorous stars of the stage and industry, while others are brought to tears by war, plague, and poverty.

In this faraway realm, eight travelers hailing from different regions venture forth for their own reasons. Step into their shoes and explore the land as you see fit, using their unique talents to aid you along your journey.

Embark on an adventure all your own.

KEY FEATURES

• Begin your adventure as one of eight new travelers, each with their own origins, motivations, and unique skills.
• The series’ HD-2D graphics, a fusion of retro pixel art and 3DCG, have reached even greater heights.
• The story takes place in Solistia, where diverse cultures thrive from east to west and the industries of the new era flourish. You can sail the seas and explore every corner of a world that changes from day to night.
• Each traveler has a unique set of Path Actions they can use to battle townspeople, obtain items, take others along in their travels, and more. Where will you go? What will you do? Every path is yours to take.
• Familiar mechanics from the original game have been preserved, like the freedom to develop your travelers’ jobs and skills, as well as the Break and Boost system that made battles so exhilarating. New mechanics have also been added.

IGN pesents some pieces of information about Octopath Traveler II:

8 Things to Know About Octopath Traveler II

RPG Site reviewed Octopath Traveler II:

Octopath Traveler II Review

I’ve had a rocky history with recent games by Square Enix’s Team Asano. The original Octopath Traveler, Bravely Default II, and Triangle Strategy were all full of potential, yet short of greatness. I’ve enjoyed dramatizing it as a “curse” of sorts, even if most of those titles were fun despite their unevenness. The only one I wasn’t able to truly get into was Octopath, and I’ve spent the last few years attempting to restart playthroughs to give it more chances to impress me.

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Octopath Traveler II is a very confident sequel, knowing what worked with the original game and polishing those aspects. I love the cast, combat, and exploration. It's bigger and better. Simple as that. It doesn’t really take much explaining to sum up why this game is so good, and trust me I’ve tried. It takes a flawed yet enjoyable premise and improves on it so well that it's one of the better Square Enix games they’ve released in recent memory. Check out the demo, there’s really not much more I can say. It also offers one of my favorite open worlds I’ve explored in a game, a true achievement that is found in the intersection of retro throwback and a modern innovation.

Score: 9/10

COG checked out the J-RPG Octopath Traveler II:

Octopath Traveler 2 Review

A good RPG lets you wander a bit before saving the world. Octopath Traveler 2 takes this a bit further. All eight stories can be completed in whatever order you wish. How refreshing! To say nothing of the side quests and extra content you can soak up along the way. While carving your own path is mostly a blast, there are some downsides. It’s hard to maintain things like pace and momentum with all that freedom, you know?

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More Fun In The Moment
On that note, there are some new twists to the established Octopath formula. You can switch between day and night, for one thing. The time of day also impacts which of your story skills you can use. This adds a whole new layer when you’re trying to finish side quests and track down rare loot. The story skill system also feels more streamlined. It’s not more streamlined, but it feels that way. Truthfully, a lot of the systems in Octopath Traveler 2 are exactly what they were in Octopath Traveler. For me, this just means more of a good thing. But don’t be surprised if a lot of this feels very familiar.

All of that aside, I loved this game. Whether or not you’ll enjoy it yourself comes down to what you’re looking for. If you’re starving for more Octopath, then this is perfect. Eight new characters, a whole new world to explore, and a handful of new systems. On the other hand, if you’re hoping for something truly new, you’ll be disappointed. I loved the first game, so all I wanted was more of the same. There are enough little changes to keep me pretty happy. But if you weren’t happy with the first one, then Octopath Traveler 2 likely isn’t for you.

Score: 80/100

IGN checked out Octopath Traveler II:

Octopath Traveler 2 Review

Here's a trailer for the upcoming RPG Octopath Traveler II:

OCTOPATH TRAVELER Ⅱ Final Trailer

Square Enix released a free prologue demo for Octopath Traveler II:

The OCTOPATH TRAVELER II Prologue Demo is OUT NOW on STEAM!

Get a head start on your journey with eight new travelers with a demo that allows you to carry over your save data! The OCTOPATH TRAVELER II Prologue Demo with save data transfer to the full version of the game is now available!

While the story can only be progressed up to the early stages of the game, you can choose to play all eight protagonists just like in the full version,

as well as decide where to go and what to do within the 3 hours and preliminary areas of the game.

Choose to make new friends, challenge powerful enemies in dungeons, or simply admire the scenery.
Embark on an adventure all your own.

[...]

The J-RPG Octopath Traveler II will be released on February 24, 2023:

Octopath Traveler II

The story takes place in Solistia, a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea.

It is a bustling era, wherein large vessels navigate busy sea routes and the power of steam gives birth to new technologies.

Some people thrill to glamorous stars of the stage and industry, while others are brought to tears by war, plague, and poverty.

In this faraway realm, eight travelers hailing from different regions venture forth for their own reasons. Step into their shoes and explore the land as you see fit, using their unique talents to aid you along your journey.

Embark on an adventure all your own.

KEY FEATURES

• Begin your adventure as one of eight new travelers, each with their own origins, motivations, and unique skills.
• The series’ HD-2D graphics, a fusion of retro pixel art and 3DCG, have reached even greater heights.
• The story takes place in Solistia, where diverse cultures thrive from east to west and the industries of the new era flourish. You can sail the seas and explore every corner of a world that changes from day to night.
• Each traveler has a unique set of Path Actions they can use to battle townspeople, obtain items, take others along in their travels, and more. Where will you go? What will you do? Every path is yours to take.
• Familiar mechanics from the original game have been preserved, like the freedom to develop your travelers’ jobs and skills, as well as the Break and Boost system that made battles so exhilarating. New mechanics have also been added.